Many
children have completed a leaf collection for a school project, it can be a lot
of fun for their siblings, parents and grandparents too. And it's practically
free! So, here's a great idea for Fall - just think how pretty an Autumn array
of red, orange and yellow leaves arranged in a leaf collection album would be,
simply beautiful!

Instead of just drying the leaves between sheets of paper
under a heavy book, here's a few more tips for preserving those beautiful
colors...

Wax Paper

Take the leaves and place them between two paper towels.
Dry one side of the leaves by ironing them for 10 minutes, on medium heat
without steam (move iron continuously). Then turn the leaves over and using a
fresh paper towel, repeat process for about 5 minutes.

Now take the dried leaves and place them in-between two sheets
of waxed paper, waxy side against the leaves. Add another sheet of waxed
paper to protect the iron and press them again for a minute or so, until the
leaves are coated with wax.

Now, peel off the waxed paper and see how the leaves have
become beautifully preserved.

Microwave

Try drying your leaves in the microwave oven, by placing them
between double layers of paper towels. Start with 30 seconds and continue
until the leaves are completely dry (please use caution as leaves can catch on
fire.)

Glycerin

We found two ways of using Glycerin to preserve leaves, the
first is to place the leaves in a flat pan in a single layer, then cover with a
mixture of one part glycerin and two parts water. Then weight the leaves
down to keep them submerged for 2-6 days. Remove the leaves and dry with
paper towels.

The second way is to bring the mixture of 1 part glycerin and
2 parts water to a boil in a saucepan. Pour the mixture into a heat-proof
container and submerge a few leaves. Keep in a dark, cool place until the
leaves begin to change color slightly. Remove the leaves and dry with
paper towels.

Going, Going...

Whichever way you choose to preserve those beautiful Autumn
leaves is fine, just make sure to get outside and collect them before they're
gone!

If you live in an ever-green area like Florida (where I grew
up), maybe you can ask family members who live further north to collect and
preserve some leaves for you and your children. Or, maybe you can schedule
a weekend trip up here to see the colors yourself, I promise you it will be
worth the trip!